The topic of the conference was What's New In Occupational Medicine - Recent Advances in Research and Practice. Drs. Mootz and Halterman-Cox gave presentations and answered questions as members of a panel on Do Practice Patterns Reflect Practice Guidelines? Comparison of ACOEM and State Guidelines to Actual Practices.
The panel was chaired by Jeff Harris,MD,MPH, who edited the first edition of the ACOEM Treatment Guidelines in 1997. Dr. Harris spoke on the results of a study comparing workers' compensation practices in Texas, and how they compared with other states. (Texas was the highest ranking state in imaging, surgery and physical medicine utilization.)
Dr. Mootz spoke on the evidence basis to chiropractic care/manipulative therapy; Dr. Halterman-Cox followed with a presentation on how the use of chiropractic care fits in with national guideline management for many conditions.
ACOEM is in the process of updating their treatment guidelines to better reflect current research. Because of the study that Dr. Harris cited, legislatures, insurance companies and professional groups are clamoring for treatment guidelines to be able to get a better handle on all health professions. Drs. Mootz and Halterman-Cox concurred that with the need to keep professional guidelines current, that it is imperative that the Mercy guidelines be updated soon; if not, others will be writing guidelines for chiropractic.
Stuart Eivers,DPT, from the University of Washington, spoke on the research behind various PT modalities (not much, according to the guidelines, noted Dr. Halterman-Cox). His strongest case was on the topic of manipulation.
Dr. Halterman-Cox asked Dr. Eivers about his manipulation training. Dr. Eiverssaid he wasn't taught manipulation in school, but had taken some seminars on manipulation and gotten a certification. Dr. Halterman-Cox noted that many PT curriculums are heading toward an expanded doctorial program to better allow them to practice independently and obtain direct access to patients in the states where they currently do not have direct access (like Texas).
The DCs reported good questions from the audience and comments about how informative it was. The turnout for the session was less than expected, however, as with other conferences since Septmeber 11.
ACOEM does not currently accept chiropractors for membership, but Dr. Mootz and Halterman-Cox believe that with increased cooperation and dialogue that this will soon change.
For more information on the ACOEM, go to www.acoem.org.
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